Lawn Mowing…

Most people don't realize how much proper mowing contributes to the overall health and appearance of their home lawn.  Therefore, let's take a look at some of the mowing basics that will provide you the best possible results:

1ST RULE!!! 80% OF LAWN CARE IS MOWING HEIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

"Mow Your lawn in the coolest part of the day for the cleanest cut."  Use a mulching mower and always leave the clippings. "The longer the grass, the deeper the root."  Grass growing in the shade needs to be cut as long as possible, since it needs more leaf area to intercept limited light. "Never remove more than 1/3 of the height of the grass at a time."  Try to mow often enough.  When winter approaches ensure your grass is cut short enough (but not scalped) to prevent it from "laying over" under deep snow cover. Using a 2 to 2-1/2 inch cutting height should be sufficient. It's actually best to gradually lower your cutting height over the final three cuts of the year, instead of trying to do it all in one final cut. Shorter grass is less likely to suffer from snow mold disease. Check for any last minute leaf accumulations that may smother your grass. Late Fall is the time to apply "winterizer" fertilizers. Don't forget to sharpen your mower blade for next year.

Watering

The most frequently asked questions are:

When is the best time of day to water?--Morning is the best, between the hours of 5AM and 8AM.  Late evening is the time to avoid watering a lawn. Why? Turf grass watered in the evening tends to stay wet all night, providing an ideal environment for fungus disease. Also watering during the heat of the day is a waste of precious water because most of it evaporates. The ground temperature can reach as high as 115 degrees F in the hot months. How much water should I give my lawn?--This varies somewhat depending on grass type. In general, applying one half inch of water per watering and never more than 3 times per week in most circumstances. Water can be measured by marking the side of a pie tin placed in the lawn. Remember that if nature provides water by rainfall, irrigation may not be needed. What about too much water? When you water your lawn too frequently it can cause excess growth, summer fungal diseases and more frequent mowing.  

Lawns that receive little to no water from irrigation or rainfall during summer months will go dormant. Most lawns will recover when water returns. During a severe drought, the grass may die and require over seeding in the fall. This may be acceptable to those looking to conserve water during summer months.  Tips for better watering... Deep and infrequent watering maintains a healthy root system and reduces weed infestation (as opposed to light and frequent irrigation, which promotes shallow roots and germination of weed seeds).  Water is best applied early in the day (5 to 8 am.) when evaporation loss is lowest.  Mow your grass at the right height (3+ inches)during the summer. Longer grass blades increase the depth of the root system, shade the soil, and help drought tolerance.